Also this issue: The Bye Line Was Lundy forced to Walker the plank? -Deborah Bolling Eighth Wonder The battle for this Northwest Council seat is anything but friendly. -Daryl Gale At-Large and In Charge -Daryl Gale The Commish A look at who's running for City Commissioner. -Mary F. Patel The Jury's Out A roundup of judicial candidates in Tuesday's primary. -Mary F. Patel Gale Warning: SEPTA-fied The French Rejection The Bell Curve City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

May 14-20, 2003

political notebook

Bite the Ballot

Former Democratic First District City Council candidate Vernon Anastasio has decided not to attempt a write-in campaign in next Tuesday's primary election. He is instead considering running as an independent in November's general election.

Anastasio was removed from the ballot by a Common Pleas Court judge because he failed to file his financial interest statement properly. He claimed he made no income last year when in fact he worked for the city and state. Anastasio said he made a mistake and blamed his opponent, City Councilman Frank DiCicco, for instigating the filing, although it was actually Sarah DeRose, a voter in the district, who challenged Anastasio. Anastasio appealed all the way up to the State Supreme Court, which upheld the lower courts' decisions in a 4-to-3 ruling.

The State Supreme Court ruled on May 2 but has yet to issue its opinion. Justice Russell Nigro, a Democrat, joined Republican Justices Ron Castille and Michael Eakin in dissent. "There is no time frame for state Supreme Court Justices to issue their opinions," said Arthur Heinz, spokesperson for the Supreme Court Administration.

The statement of financial interest is regulated by the State Ethics Commission. A candidate who fails to file the form or, as in Anastasio's case, fails to file properly, cannot appear on the ballot.

What about sitting elected officials who failed to file properly in the past?

Prior to the high court's ruling, Anastasio was handing out copies of DiCicco's past financial forms, which he claimed had incorrect information. DiCicco disputed this.

John Contino, executive director of the State Ethics Commission, said that the penalty for an officeholder is different than for someone who has not been elected.

"Failure to file does not mean removal from office," said Contino. "If a "non-filing' or mistakes are reported, we allow them to be corrected. Usually they are mistakes and are corrected. But failure to comply can result in fines and if ignored will result in a court hearing."

Contino said that the Commission, an independent body appointed by members of the state legislature and the governor, does routine spot checks of filings. "But we have all the state and 5,000 county entities," he added.

If Anastasio runs as an independent in the general election, he will face DiCicco, Republican candidate Rick Cataldi and any other independent who decides to run.

Anastasio had support from Electricians Union Local 98 Business Manager John Dougherty. As treasurer for Democratic City Committee, Dougherty is prohibited from supporting a non-Democratic candidate. Dougherty and DiCicco's sponsor, State Sen. Vincent Fumo, are not chums.

DiCicco had accused Local 98 of following him around with a video camera for the last 16 months. Will the union continue this activity?

"I expect a quiet election in the district," said Larry Ceisler, spokesperson for Local 98.

The American Women's Heritage Society (AWHS) got some good news last week during an hourlong sit-down with Mayor John Street to discuss the ongoing saga of the Belmont Mansion.

The historic mansion in Fairmount Park has been embroiled in controversy, which has stalled its much needed repairs, over the issue of whether or not the third floor should be removed.

AWHS, a volunteer organization of mostly African-American women, had produced historical research that supported their theory that the mansion's third floor was used as a station in the Underground Railroad.

The Fairmount Park Commission, on recommendation from the Historical Commission, voted to restore the mansion to a period that did not include the third floor, claiming that the AWHS did not have substantial proof of the slave connection.

Audrey R. Johnson-Thornton, president of AWHS, brought the dilemma to the attention of the mayor when contractors sent by the city's Capital Improvement Department were beating down the doors of the Belmont and were ready to begin demolition.

Street halted all work until he had time to hear the issues, which he did last week at the meeting attended by Johnson-Thornton and other members of AWHS, members of the City Planning Commission, the Historical and Fairmount Park Commissions and Richard Peters, a direct descendent of the family that inhabited the mansion during the antebellum period.

"The mayor is hesitant to remove the third floor and make a mistake by destroying any historical significance," said Street's spokesperson, Barbara Grant. "He will also explore ways to make the repairs cost-effective."

The Historical Commission had argued that the cost of retaining the third floor would be prohibitive.

AWHS has been given permission to provide the mayor with architectural plans that support the feasibility of retaining the third floor.

"I want to use minority architects," said Johnson-Thornton.

Grant said that Street was supportive of the AWHS and is mindful of the delay, since the project has been stalled for so long.

"It's only taken six years," said Johnson-Thornton.